Bar hanger



f h 9 3.- c. J. SMITH r "BA HANGER Filed Feb. 6, 1942 N f -'E J-EmI H INVENTORZ Patented Mar. 9, 1943 ll N i T E D STAT BAR HANGER Clarence J. Smith, Mason City, Iowa, assignor of one-half to R. G. Thompson, Clear Lake, Iowa Application February 6, 1942, Serial No. 429,842

2 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a bar hanger to be used with outlet boxes, furring and the like, that will permit the rigid and permanent attachment of an article to an I beam or like, and which provides an easy, quick and permanent method of attaching the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bar hanger wherein the securement means are fully adjustable to permit the placement of an outlet box at any point selected between adjacent beams or sills.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bar hanger that is extremely economical in manufacture, durable and efficient in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a bar hanger, with clamps attached showing its structure.

Fig. 2 is an end sectional view of beam members with my bar hanger secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the quick adjustable clamp means, and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the adjustable clamp member shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear plan view of the adjustable clamp shown in Fig. 4.

Heretofore, it has been necessary when securing bar hangers or the like to beams to block a piece of wood between the beams and then secure the bar hanger to the wood. These pieces of wood blocked in also served as furring strips to secure furring to steel beams for plastering or the like. These bar hangers presented many disadvantages due to the difiiculty of placing them on the beams, the amount of labor and expenses involved, and the inability to place them so that the outlet box could be in any desired position. I have overcome such disadvantages as will be appreciated, and as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral to indicate a bar hanger having the raised portion II and an outlet box i2 slidably mounted on the raised portion ll in the usual manner. The numerals l3 and I4 indicate beams to which it is desired to attach the bar hanger, furring, or a similar article. It is in conjunction with such a combination that I use my clamp means which I will now describe. I have used the numeral [5 to indicate a clamp embracing a portion of one end of the hanger bar I0 and having thereon the inwardly extending arms IS. The clamp is held in place by a nut and bolt ll as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The numerals l8, l9 and 20 indicate a plurality of holes cut through the other end of the bar hanger i B. These holes are spaced apart, and. their function will hereinafter be described. I have used the numeral H to indicate a clamping member loosely and slidably mounted on the end of the bar hanger I!) having the holes l8, l9 and 20 cut therein. The numeral 22 indicates an ear formed from the sheet of metal forming the clamp 2| and extending inwardly as shown in the drawing to clamp over the shoulder portion of the beam l4. Formed on a rearward end of the ears 22 is a lug member 23 capable of registering with any one selected hole l8, [9 or 20. It will be noted that the clearance of the clamping member 2| is great enough to permit the tilting of the clamp or ears 22 to such a degree that the lug 23 will be out of engagement with the holes l8, l9 or 2H, and the clamp can be moved to register with any one selected hole. Both the clamps I5 and 21 together with their car members are formed from a single sheet of material.

The practical operation of my device is as follows:

The distance of the box IE from one of the joists or beams is determined, the clamp 2| is then placed so that the lug 23 is within one of the holes l8, l9 and 20, and the ears 22 are then placed so that that overhanging portion rests on the upper side of the lower leg of the beam. The clamp I5 is then slid along the bar It until it is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the bolt I1 is then tightened, and the bar hanger is secured to the beams or joists.

The same procedure may be followed when securing furring to metallic beams or steel structures, and it takes but a few seconds for the electrician, carpenter, or the like to permanently secure the bar hanger, furring or the like to any type of steel construction. The holes, cou pled with the lug 23 and the sliding action of the clamp 2|, and clamp l5 provide a great latitude of adjustment for centering any given article. The undercut portion of the ears [6 and 22 may be of any desired shape for securement to any type of steel beam or structure. The particular shape shown particularly lends itself to places where beam joists are used in steel or concrete structure.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a bar hanger and means for attaching the same, which fulfills all of my objects, and provides a quick and permanent method of attaching articles to steel, concrete or other beams.

Obviously, it is not necessary that there be holes through the bar hanger, inasmuch as depressions or notches cut in the bar hanger would serve the identical purpose.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved bar hanger without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable clamp member for bar hangers or the like having a plurality of spaced apart holes cut therein, an adjustable clamping element comprising, a sleeve element, ears on the upper side of said sleeve element, and a lug formed on said clamp elements capable of registering with any one of said holes in said bar hanger; said sleeve element being of such a size as to permit the disengagement of the lug from the holes when said sleeve is tilted.

2. In an adjustable clamp member for use in connection with a bar having a plurality of holes out therein, a sleeve element having an inside area greater than the cross sectional area of the bar, clamping ears formed on said sleeve element, and a lug formed on one end of said sleeve element and capable of being engaged within one of the holes in said bar member.

C. J. SMITH. 

